Navi | Product Design
Commuting made simple.
Navi is a conceptual transit app designed to simplify urban commuting by providing a holistic, all-in-one solution for planning, navigating, and managing daily travel. The app addresses the frustration of using multiple apps by integrating real-time transit data, ride-sharing options, weather updates, and transit pass management into a single, user-friendly platform.
The Challenge
Urban professionals often rely on 4+ apps to plan their commutes, leading to a fragmented and time-consuming experience. Key pain points include:
Fragmented Information: Users must switch between apps for transit schedules, ride-sharing, weather, and alerts.
Lack of Personalization: Existing apps don’t tailor recommendations based on individual preferences like distance, time, or transit options.
Inefficient Transit Pass Management: Users struggle to store and access digital transit passes across different platforms.
Research and Insights
To understand user needs, I conducted eight in-depth interviews with urban professionals aged 20–39. Key findings included:
App Overload:
Over half of the participants used more than one app to plan commutes.
Over a third used 4+ apps daily.
Commuting Preferences:
Many participants preferred walking or biking for the flexibility and control it offered.
Most Used Apps:
Google Maps (6/8 participants)
Lyft/Uber (5/8 participants)
Rocket Man, Transit App, Waze, My TTC, Presto App (less frequently used)
The Weather Network App was also frequently mentioned, highlighting the importance of weather in commuting decisions.
These insights revealed a clear need for a centralized solution that consolidates transit planning, navigation, and pass management into one app.
User Personas
Based on my research, I developed two user personas to represent the target audience:
Persona 1: The Busy Professional
Name: Jess, 29
Occupation: Account Executive
Goals: Save time, reduce stress, and make commuting more efficient.
Pain Points: Overwhelmed by juggling multiple apps; needs quick, reliable transit options.
Persona 2: The Eco-Conscious Commuter
Name: Jen, 26
Occupation: Student/PT Job on campus
Goals: Reduce environmental impact; prefers walking, biking, or public transit.
Pain Points: Lack of integrated tools for sustainable commuting; frustrated by unreliable transit schedules.
The Solution
Navi is a holistic transit app that delivers accurate, personalized travel recommendations based on customizable user preferences, including:
Transit Options: Compare public transit, ride-sharing, walking, and biking.
Real-Time Data: Access live updates on schedules, delays, and crowd-sourced alerts.
Weather Integration: Plan commutes based on current and forecasted weather conditions.
Transit Pass Management: Store, manage, and tap digital transit passes seamlessly.
By eliminating the need for multiple apps, Navi saves users time and helps them make informed transit decisions tailored to their needs.
Process
Information Architecture
Main Sections:
Home (map)
Transit Pass
Alerts
Route Search
Settings
User Flows:
Planning a trip
Reporting a hazard
Paying a fare
Adding a favourite route
The IA map ensured a logical and intuitive navigation system, making it easy for users to find what they needed quickly.
Ideation & Wireframing
I began by sketching low-fidelity wireframes to explore different layouts and user flows.
Key features included a unified dashboard, customizable transit preferences, and real-time alerts.
POP Testing & Iteration
I conducted POP (Prototype on Paper) testing with five participants to gather feedback. Key refinements included:
Combining the Route Planning and Pay Transit Fare flows for a seamless experience.
Clarifying the Favourite Routes flow to show how to add a favourite route.
Adding a step to the Transit Pass flow to enable multiple transit pass management.
Visual Design: Style Tile
To establish a cohesive visual identity for Navi, I designed a style tile that defined the app’s look and feel. The style tile included:
Color Palette:
A minimalistic, approachable palette with neutral colors accented by bright green to reference “green means go” and the eco-friendly nature of public and alternative modes of transit.
Typography:
Gotham for its simplicity and modern aesthetic.
Iconography:
Simple, line-based icons for universal recognition and ease of use.
Buttons & UI Elements:
Rounded corners and subtle shadows for a friendly, approachable feel.
The style tile served as a visual guide, ensuring consistency across all screens and components.
Key Features
Unified Dashboard:
View all transit options (public transit, ride-sharing, walking, biking) in one place.
Personalized Recommendations:
Receive tailored route suggestions based on preferences like time, distance, and weather.
Real-Time Alerts:
Stay updated on delays, disruptions, and crowd-sourced alerts.
Transit Pass Management:
Store, manage, and tap digital transit passes with ease.
Weather Integration:
Plan commutes based on real-time and forecasted weather conditions.
Challenges and Learnings
Challenges:
Balancing simplicity with the need for robust functionality.
Ensuring accurate real-time data integration across multiple transit systems.
Learnings:
User testing revealed the importance of progressive disclosure—showing only the most relevant information upfront.
I learned to prioritize features based on user needs and technical feasibility.
Conclusion
Navi is a conceptual solution designed to streamline urban commuting by consolidating transit planning, navigation, and pass management into one app. By gathering research and developing user personas, creating a clear information architecture map, and designing simple user flows, I ensured the app met the needs of diverse users while maintaining a cohesive and intuitive structure.
Next Steps
If I were to take this project further, I would:
Explore partnerships with transit agencies to integrate real-time data.
Conduct additional user testing to refine the interface and functionality.
Develop a gamification feature to encourage sustainable commuting habits.